Wielki Grochowiec hill in Ryczów

Wielki Grochowiec is a treeless, rocky hill rising to 486 m above sea level in Ryczów (Ogrodzieniec municipality), just north of the road to Żelazko. From its flat, cross-topped summit the view sweeps all the way around the horizon, and the limestone walls of the Słoń (Elephant), Nosorożec (Rhinoceros) and Tapir rocks are popular climbing objectives in the Polish Jura.

The hill and its rocks

Grochowiec has steep, grassy slopes and a broad summit plateau cut off by vertical walls on its western and northern sides. The national register of geographical names calls it simply Grochowiec, while guidebooks and climbing websites use Wielki Grochowiec. The main summit is formed by the Słoń rock, the largest wall of the massif at 8–20 m high. A rocky ridge runs north from it, carrying Nosorożec and the lower Tapir, about 20 m apart. On the top stand a metal cross and a post with a plaque on a concrete base.

For climbers and walkers

Climbers have put up 35 routes on the three rocks of Grochowiec, graded from II+ to VI.5 on the Kurtyka scale, 23 of them on Słoń alone, almost all equipped with bolts and lower-off anchors. The Silesian tourist portal also lists the Pancernik (Armadillo) rock in this area, but that is a separate outcrop hidden in the woods at the foot of neighbouring Łysa Pałka, with a tunnel piercing its base. Visitors without gear simply walk up the grassy slope to the summit. When the air is clear you can see not only the Jura's limestone outcrops but also the Carpathians, and according to some descriptions even the Tatras.

Tripto tips

• The Słoń rock stands about 270 m from the Ryczów–Żelazko road, in open meadows outside the village, and is visible from the road. An hour is enough to walk up and take in the view.
• There are no facilities on the hill, so bring water and shoes with a good grip. Do not stand beneath walls where people are climbing.
• The blue Trail of Jurassic Strongholds (Szlak Warowni Jurajskich) crosses the north-eastern part of Ryczów: north-west it leads to the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze (about 1.5 hours), in the other direction towards Smoleń and the Wodąca Valley.
• Nearby you can see the ruins of the Ryczów watchtower, most likely from the late 14th century, built on a rock known as Strażnica.